Yes, That is the question and most of the 'experts' say move your head for techniques such as 'warbles', and your jaw for others.
Personally I decided to not move my head at all and use my hands to move my embrochure around the the little chap.
By that I mean nothing to do with what is happening with the tounge, lips, throat...just the movement of the harmonica across the mouth area.
To facilitate this you can employ the standard grip (left forefinger across the top of the harp and left thumb on the bottom and I often hold the mic in the right hand.
Also you can hold the harp in the right hand with thumb at front and middlle finger at back, forefinger on top and hold the mic in left hand..great for super-fast warbles.
how about 2 harps in the left hand? between the 3 middle fingers and you can use say a low F and f in the same number easily for contrast without having to fumble around.
I suffer from chronic neck pain, so I try not to warble with my head. Also suffer from TMDS so jaw warbling is painful for me too. Pretty much a hands on warbler. ---------- Hawkeye Kane
I do both, but here I am clearly moving my head..first warble around :54, then again near 2:30.
Pardon the sticky reeds.
Joe-how would someone warble by moving their jaw? Do you mean by keeping their head and hands still, and moving the lower jaw to and fro? I've never seen that before.
Exactly. Guy here in Springfield named Brad Hessing does the same thing with his jaw. I don't know how gets those jaw muscles moving so fast. I can't move them that fast and for me it'd hurt like a SOB. ---------- Hawkeye Kane
Yeah. Although popping my jaw usually relieves the pain temporarily. Maybe I should give it another whirl to see if it'll help pop it. ---------- Hawkeye Kane
I sometimes use two harps on a song, just as you described: a low F and a regular F. I'll use the low (or regular) for fills and rhythm during the verses and use the regular (or low) for my solo. Which to use where depends on the song. I hold the main one between the thumb and index finger and the second one between the index and middle fingers. What I find is that it's more challenging to get a good cup on the mic when switching to the harp between the index and middle fingers, but it does work. Probably need more practice. Once my solo is done, I put that harp down (one solo in the song), and finish up with the original one.
If I was sophisticated I might switch between keys of harps and positions mid song, but it makes my brain hurt to think about that. ----------
I have found that if your blowing through a mic,bullet,cupping a ball or others that the head shake is the way.If your playing acoustic or in front of a mic on a stand that the hand movement is very effective,as well as the head shake.just my opinion
It's odd, if I hold the harp in my left hand and cup it, like we are all taught to do, I can't shake my hands, just doesn't work for me. Shaking my head is kind of awkward too but better. But if I hold the harp in my right hand, I can really rip it!
If you are right handed, you can hold the microphone with your left hand and move the harp with your right hand. It can be challenging not to impact your tone, but it can be done.
You can also move the hands, harp and microphone cupped together. It's easier if you aren't using the two thumbs up method of holding the harp and mic.
I've always moved my hands. I was pleased to discover while reading the Glover/Dirks bio, that Little Walter moved his hands, not his head. He's quoted as saying something disparaging about the head-warble move.
EDITED TO ADD: One of the best warblers I've ever seen was a slightly chunky white guy who played The Blue Rose Lounge on Broadway one night in 1984 or 1985. He wasn't famous; he wasn't a NYC local guy, either. (Not BBQ Bob Pomeroy or Rocky Savino or Oscher or Speedo Jones or Mason Casey or Lester Schultz or Felix Cabrera or any of those guys. Nobody seemed to know him. He warbled a LOT, and they were like a whole musical language. Amazing stuff. Nothing terribly fancy, either; nothing like the best of Little Walter in "Back Track" and the like. Just solid, powerful stuff, as lead playing. So there's something there! Something worth working on.
EDITED 24 HOURS LATER TO ADD: I remember quite clearly that the warbler I'm describing above moved his head, not his hands. That messed me up! His sound was SO good. I spent the next few weeks trying to transform myself into a head-warbler. I just couldn't do it without feeling nauseous.
Last Edited by on Oct 20, 2011 6:00 AM
I mainly use my hands, I feel there is more control there, especially if I want to vary the speed of the warble. I also use the thumbs up grip which I think makes using the hands a bit easier.
I do use my head occasionally when I want a really fast warble. I find I can get greater speed like that. It does make me feel a little dizzy though.
Just wanted to post an example. I was moving my head subconciously. If asked point blank which method I used, I'd say I usually moved my hands and the harp instead, but definitely not there.
We have a club member, Patrick Williams, who does this ridiculously fast head warble that is almost a visual and audio blur as a 'trick'. I'll post a vid when I can nail it down and have time to look. There may be one in the recent CCHC Harp Review thread. ---------- Todd L. Greene
Very nice warbling, but using the right hand to hold the harp, thumb and forefinger on the right side, and hold the mic in the left, you can extend the range and the speed of the warble (ooh I love that word):)
@joshnat 'probably need more practice'
No, because cupping can be irrelevant if your tone is good enough. Fine cup if you can and improve but the contrast of the two harps will be enough in the short term.
Try 2 harmonic minors, on your own, at an open mic in one hand, it blows them away..
My hands,although I do move my head a little. If I move it too much, it gives me a headache. I usually play through a stick mic with a screw on VC and adapter hung on the end.It's a real bear to get a good warble just using my hands.
